My last training run before the marathon was this morning, so it's official - nothing left to do to prepare for the race except pack. I can hardly believe there are only 3 days left until I hear that gun go off and take off with 30,000 or so other runners in San Diego.

My fundraising goal has been met, thanks in large part to employer gift matching programs (Thank you! Corporate America!!) and I have my purple jersey in hand, ready to go. This has been an amazing experience and I can't wait for race day!!

A complete update, including my crazy taper experience is here: http://monasfirstmarathon.blogspot.com

I'll check back in after the race with a Race Report to let you know how it went.

Catch you then!

Oh.My.Goodness!! It's almost here!!!!! Just 10 days until showtime!

All the hard work is done now, except for the taper. No more LOOOONG runs. No more weight training. No more speed drills. Just a few more days of running and it's go time.

This has been an incredible experience and I want to thank every single person who's come along with me for the ride. Whether you've helped me reach my fundraising goal to fight cancer or supported me with positive thoughts or prayers or just made me smile with a kind word or a note, I appreciate you all! This is such an important cause, fighting cancer, and to think I'm a part of helping so many people through LLS is incredible.

26.2 miles is no joke. I'm still a little intimidated, despite all the preparation, but I am determined to make it. Carbo loading will start soon, which will be a struggle for a low carber like me. So just one last hurdle to get over and then the race. Can't wait to go postcard shopping for thank you cards for my supporters!!

It looks like my fundraising and my training are neck and neck at the halfway point. This past Saturday I ran in a half marathon. The conditions were not the very best, but I was proud of my finish. Check out the details here: http://monasfirstmarathon.blogspot.com/

Check out my Blog: http://monasfirstmarathon.blogspot.com/

I ran 35 miles last week!

Welcome to my Team In Training fundraising page.

I'm training to participate in the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

One of my honored team mates is Shea Kohman. Shea was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia while at a routine doctors visit when she decided to run her first marathon. She was only 25 years old, a newlywed with a brand new job. Thanks to LLS, she is successfully in treatment with a drug called Tasigna, which allows her to live her life without side effects. After 6 months in treatment, she reached her goal of finishing a marathon, finishing the Houston Marathon with Team in Training.

Please help me support this important work as well as my goal of running in San Diego by making a donation to support my participation in Team In Training. In doing so you will help advance LLS's mission to support research of blood cancers, education, and patient support.